Potomac Tech Wire - May 14
McLean-based Iridium to Acquire Aireon for $366 Million
o McLean-based Iridium to Acquire Aireon for $366 Million
o Eir Partners Takes Controlling Stake in Baltimore-based QuartzBio
o Arlington-based Fed Tech to Run Accelerator Program for DoE
o TEDCO Invests $500,000 in College Park-based QC82
o Sterne, Kessler and Thomson Reuters Launch AI Patent Tool
o Travel Insurance Firm Faye Opening U.S. HQ in Richmond
o TEDCO Promotes Tammi Thomas to President
o Kickstart’s Gavin Christensen Named New Chair of NVCA
> Tomorrow: Social Media Marketing Outlook - May 15 (Reston)
o Briefly Noted: Tyto Athene, Seekr, Peraton, Silent Push, TEDCO
McLean-based Iridium to Acquire Aireon for $366 Million
McLean, Va. – In a move that will combine two of the region’s larger satellite technology firms, Iridium Communications, the McLean-based satellite communications company, announced that it will acquire Aireon LLC, an operator of a space-based air traffic surveillance system. Iridium, which previously held a large stake in Aireon, said it will pay $366 million for the 61% of the company that it did not own. The sellers are NAV CANADA, AirNav Ireland, ENAV, NATS and Naviair.
“The acquisition unites Aireon’s surveillance and data services, including GPS jamming and spoofing detection, with Iridium’s global satcom network and PNT services that help keep GPS-dependent systems working in contested environments,” Iridium said in a news release about the deal. “This combination creates one company providing four critical aviation industry capabilities: knowing where every aircraft is, communicating with the pilots flying them, providing the navigation and timing integrity those aircraft rely on, and translating that information into operational insights that make airspace safer and more efficient.”
Eir Partners Takes Controlling Stake in Baltimore-based QuartzBio
Baltimore – QuartzBio, a Baltimore-based startup providing biomarker intelligence to biotech and pharmaceutical firms, announced that it has received a growth investment from private equity firm Eir Partners that now has a controlling interest in the company. The amount of the investment was not disclosed. QuartzBio has developed an AI platform that provides analysis and intelligence for clinical portfolios.
“Modern clinical development generates unprecedented volumes of data, yet trial risk persists because that data is fragmented, delayed, or unreliable,” said Scott Marshall, the CEO of QuartzBio. “This investment allows us to double down on delivering a scalable software platform that removes manual oversight, protects scientific integrity, and materially reduces trial cost and duration.”
Arlington-based Fed Tech to Run Accelerator Program for DoE
Arlington, Va. – Fed Tech, an Arlington-based R&D company that runs various accelerator programs, announced the launch of a new 18-week accelerator program focused on innovation in energy. The program, called DOE Boost, matches entrepreneurs with technologies developed in Department of Energy laboratories, with the aim of commercializing the technology. The program is funded by the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF), administered by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC).
TEDCO Invests $500,000 in College Park-based QC82
College Park, Md. – TEDCO, the Maryland technology development agency, announced that it has made a $500,000 investment in College Park-based QC82, a quantum computing startup. QC82 is developing detectors aimed at supporting long-distance quantum communications. The investment came from TEDCO’s Venture Funds. “The potential of quantum computing radiates across industries, and with a more practical solution, like what QC82 is working on, I can only imagine the opportunities that will arise,” said Katherine Hill Ritchie, senior director of TEDCO’s Venture Funds.
Sterne, Kessler and Thomson Reuters Launch AI Patent Tool
Washington, D.C. – Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, a DC-based intellectual property law firm, and business intelligence company Thomson Reuters announced the co-development of an AI workflow tool for patent attorneys. The tool, called Patent Claim Eligibility Analyzer, helps determine which inventions are eligible for patent protection – such as processes, machine, manufacture, and composition of matter – under Section 101 of the U.S. Patent Act.
“For patent owners seeking to assert a patent, understanding its vulnerability under Section 101 is essential before litigation begins. For defendants, a fast, reliable eligibility assessment can reveal a path to an early win. Both sides want information fast,” said Daniel Block, director in Sterne Kessler’s Electronics Practice Group and leader of Sterne Kessler Labs. “We’ve built a scalable platform that can deliver patent eligibility analysis in minutes, not days – dramatically enhancing the value we bring to our clients.”
Travel Insurance Firm Faye Opening U.S. HQ in Richmond
Richmond, Va. – Faye, an Israeli startup offering travel insurance online, announced that it will open its new U.S. headquarters in Richmond. The company said the new headquarters will be based in a 6,100-square-foot space in West End. The company provides travelers with various services through its site and app, including travel insurance, telemedicine offerings, and travel management. “Richmond has long been an insurance hub, and we’ve been fortunate to attract exceptional talent from across the industry,” said Jeff Rolander, vice president of customer experience and claims at Faye.
TEDCO Promotes Tammi Thomas to President
Columbia, Md. – TEDCO, the Maryland state technology development agency, announced the promotions of Tammi Thomas to president and Geyssel Gonzalez to chief financial & technology officer. “These promotions reflect the extraordinary leadership, institutional knowledge and forward-thinking vision Tammi and Geyssel bring to TEDCO and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO.
Kickstart’s Gavin Christensen Named New Chair of NVCA
Washington, D.C. – The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), based in D.C., has announced that Gavin Christensen, founder and general partner at Kickstart, has been named chair of the organization’s board of directors. Christensen succeeds Vineeta Agarwala, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). The NVCA also announced the appointment of ten new directors, including Columbia Capital’s Monish Kundra. The full list of directors is here.
Last Call: Social Media Marketing Outlook - Friday in Reston
Briefly Noted
(Reston, Va.) Tyto Athene, the Tysons-based federal systems integrator and portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, has named Cutter Brenton as Chief AI Officer (CAIO). Brenton most recently served as vice president of algorithmic warfare at Booz Allen Hamilton.
(Reston, Va.) Seekr, a Reston-based AI company that builds domain-specific large language models, has named Colby Proffitt as chief marketing officer. Proffitt formerly held the role of CMO at Carbyne.
(Reston, Va.) Peraton, the Reston-based national security contractor, announced the appointment of Gabe Camarillo as president of its defense sector. Camarillo was formerly the senior vice president of the Defense Technology Solutions Business Unit at KBR.
(Reston, Va.) Silent Push, a Reston-based cybersecurity company, has named Thomas Bain as its chief marketing officer (CMO). He formerly held the position of CMO at VulnCheck.
(Columbia, Md.) TEDCO, the technology development agency of Maryland, has named Direna Cousins as its vice president of marketing. She formerly held the role of director of membership programs at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America.
Join us tomorrow for our Social Media Marketing Outlook for GovCon on May 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Reston.
The event will feature leading digital strategy and communications experts who will share their perspectives on the unique, and evolving, social landscape and the trends for the GovCon sector. Speakers Include:
Shab Nassirpour, SVP, Marketing and Communications, Everforth ECS
Alex Love, VP of Marketing and Communications, Riva Systems
Casey Dell’Isola, Senior Account Director, REQ
Mark Amtower, Managing Partner, Amtower & Company
Moderator: Paul Sherman, Editor, Paul Sherman